of the world round Britannia in a picture,
came about my wife, and poured into her lap a most extraordinary
paraphernalia from the horn of their abundance.

The common talk of the town was, that surely I was bereft of my wonted
discretion, to traffic so openly with corruption; and that it could not
be doubted I would have to face the House of Commons, and suffer the
worst pains and penalties of bribery. But what did all this signify to
me, who was conscious of the truth and integrity of my motives and
talents? "They say!--what say they?--let them say!"--was what I said, as
often as any of my canny friends came to me, saying, "For God's sake, Mr
Pawkie, tak'tent"--"I hope, Mr Pawkie, ye ken the ground ye stand on"--or,
"I wish that some folks were aware of what's said about them." In short,
I was both angered and diverted by their clishmaclavers; and having some
need to go into Glasgow just on the eve of the election, I thought I
would, for diversion, give them something in truth to play with; so
saying nothing to my shop lad the night before, nor even to Mrs Pawkie,
(for the best of women are given to tattling), till we were in our beds,
I went off early on the morning of the day appointed for choosing the
delegate.

The consternation in the town at my evasion was wonderful. Nobody could
fathom it; and the friends and supporters of the rival candidates looked,
as I was told, at one another, in a state of suspicion that was just a
curiosity to witness. Even when the delegate was chosen, every body
thought that something would be found wanting, merely because I was not
present. The new member himself, when his election was declared, did not
feel quite easy; and more than once, when I saw him after my return from
Glasgow, he said to me, in a particular manner--"But tell me now, bailie,
what was the true reason of your visit to Glasgow?" And, in like manner,
his opponent also hinted that he would petition against the return; but
there were some facts which he could not well get at without my
assistance--insinuating that I might find my account in helping him.

At last, the true policy of the part I had played began to be understood;
and I got far more credit for the way in which I had turned both parties
so well to my own advantage, than if I had been the means of deciding the
election by my single vote.

CHAPTER XLII--THE NEW MEMBER

But the new member was, in some points, not of so tractable a nature a